A quick disclaimer - the following recap is based on my personal experience.
March 12th, 2020. A day had passed since the CDC declared COVID-19 a pandemic. The last day of a formerly normal 2019-20 school year that suddenly transformed to over a year of caution filled with anxiety and slivers of hope. We initially thought it would be a 3-day weekend even with the cancellation of events such as a board meeting setup on campus and District Convention (for Key Club) in Reno. It also happened to be picture day for last year’s badminton team. We didn’t know that practices and eventual games, including the Wolf Classic, would dwindle down to virtual practices and a senior night via Zoom. Although I don’t have much photographic or video material from that day, I can remember it quite a bit clearly.
I also had an orthodontist appointment that occurred after 7th period in Big History (remember both?). Everyone was either ecstatic about or dreading March 16th, the day we would return from the 3-day weekend. As I received a check-in on my braces, my mom bought me chocolate flavored boba at Crave Cafe. I accidentally spilled a bit of that boba on my shorts during the ride back to school, and I was panicking inside trying to wipe it off. By the time I got to the gym, it was already past 4:30pm. After conversing with one of my friends on the boys tennis team for a few minutes, I walked inside and was met with the rest of my team, more than 50 people, waiting for me to get in for the group picture. Turns out I arrived late in style.
I placed my drink on the bleachers, unzipped my racquet from its case, and took my place in the first row. It was time to take one of the last few team photos.
Of course, we did have to take a photo for the yearbook, and we could only smile. A couple of players had a different variation of the uniform, in which it had the Under Armour logo clearly displayed on the shirt. The 2020 uniform didn’t have one on the shirt (it said “American Canyon Lady Wolves” though), but it did on the shorts. After that, we took another picture but it was different, in which you could call it “wacky wacky.” Some of us did the shy hand sign (🥺👉🏻👈🏻), which was trending at the time (and sort of still is today), others did a finger heart or peace sign, while some decided to rise up with their racquets. You’ll see what I mean at the end. Several players then had to take any solo and/or small group pictures. I was one of those said players, who had a solo and a buddy picture with one of my friends. She also “hacked” my phone and I posted her picture on my Instagram story, in which I still have it. Sure, she wasn’t my doubles partner, but she was one of those teammates who played a significant role in motivating me to try interscholastic badminton. Even before tryouts, we both had the ambition to hopefully pass the cuts. I was confused a majority of the time since I procrastinated on ordering my pictures, but luckily, things turned out to be smooth.
After the players that wanted extra photos were finished, we were tasked with helping to bring out the nets and poles for practice as the photo company was putting away their equipment. Us exhibition players had the chance to practice against some of our teammates from JV, and it did bring in some sort of adrenaline as our speed and stamina was tested on the court. Other than that, it was basically free play at both the upper and lower gym. We would practice techniques and strategies that could be useful for future exhibitions, league games, and eventually, sections (when and if we get there). In the case of doubles, we would most likely be practicing with our partner against another pair.
As the day approached sunset and practice was nearing its end, the unexpected happened. This is what the coaches would eventually announce to the entire team and managers as we were grouped together in the lower gym.
Spring sports wouldn’t return to campus until at least April 1st, and it was mainly because of the coronavirus pandemic taking its toll on the world and our county. Everything was starting to get shut down, social distancing became the norm, mask-wearing became mandatory, case and death numbers were starting to become all too familiar, and schools were told to close their doors to ensure student and staff safety, so that meant the cancellation of in-person practices and games. Panic, anxiety, feelings about the unknown roamed around society at large. No one was screaming in despair, but everyone was definitely shocked at the season getting cut short. But not seeing our teammates in-person, especially the seniors, for an indefinite period of time as we were all about to be stuck at home under a shelter-in-place order? That was the most devastating thing. It didn’t necessarily age well after I told my mom about the whole ordeal with badminton and the district announcing campus closures. However, safety was the top priority and it still is today.
Unfortunately, I won’t be able to be part of the team this year due to transportation that is non-bus, studying for the AP World History exam, and my duties as a tech editor for Key Club that will interfere with practices and games. I do hope that this year’s team has fun this season even though it may look different! Maybe next year, things will be different in my case and I can get back on the court after all of my other activities are sorted out.
To last year’s team: even though I may not look like it or say it often, I miss you all and I really did hope for a chaotic fun season.
Thank you guys for making the last part of my freshman year memorable.
This is the official photographic material of what the day was like:
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